Kindle Fire questions

[cjgrubbs]

We have 2 basic nooks here in the house but no Kindle. I'm considering getting a Kindle Fire for myself. But I'm wondering though how easy is it to use the internet feature for

1. checking email

2. browsing sites

3. updating my blog including uploading pictures

also wondering if it's decent for an mp3 player for audio books/lectures.

 

I'd really like to take it to China next year when we travel to adopt instead of having to carry the laptop. But want to be sure it could handle all of these options.

 

Thanks to anyone willing to help me answer these questions!

[three4me]

I don't have a Kindle Fire (just a Kindle Touch), but I'm wondering if you considered a Nook Color or tablet. That way all of the Nook items you've already purchased could be used on the Color/tablet. Just something to think about :)

[cjgrubbs]

I don't have a Kindle Fire (just a Kindle Touch), but I'm wondering if you considered a Nook Color or tablet. That way all of the Nook items you've already purchased could be used on the Color/tablet. Just something to think about :)

 

We haven't purchased that many and I really want to be able to take advantage of all those FREE Amazon books!

[Kirch]

I love my Kindle. :)

 

First, though, I need to make sure you know that the Fire needs a wi-fi hotspot to get on the internet. It doesn't have a 3g or 4g connection. We had to get a router, which wasn't a big deal, but since you're talking about traveling with it, I wanted to make sure you knew that. There's still plenty you can do with it offline, of course.

 

1. Checking email when I'm online is easy. I have a Yahoo account.

 

2. Browsing sites is usually easy. Sites usually recognize it as a mobile device, so sometimes a site will automatically switch to the mobile version, like you would use on a phone. Sometimes it's easier, sometimes I'll type in the actual web address to access the full site. Also, there are occasionally sites that don't like to play nicely with my kindle. I can bring up the site, but it won't let me scroll through it. Most sites are fine, though.

 

3. I'm not sure on this one. I've edited posts on my kindle, but I haven't gotten around to trying to upload pics to it, let alone from kindle to blog.

 

The free books are definitely nice! :D I really do use mine all the time--to read, play games, browse/post here & other internet stuff, watch movies, etc. It seems like there was something else I was going to tell you about it, but I can't remember what it was. If I do, I'll post again!

[*Michelle*]

1 and 2 are easy from the Kindle, but I always blog from my desktop. I can't imagine pecking out a long, formatted blog post on the screen keyboard.

 

At this point, though, blogging and storing pictures are pretty much all the desktop is used for.

 

ETA: The audio on the first generation Fire is passable. If you're in a quiet room, an audiobook will be fine. Music sounds a little tinny. The 2nd generation Fire HD and the Fire HD 8.9" are supposed to have really nice audio, though. I'm going to be upgrading to the 8.9" (which also has a 4G plan for $50/yr), getting a Fire HD for our oldest, and passing my first generation Fire to our second oldest. The functionality of each pretty much matches what each of us will use them for.

Edited September 29, 2012 by *Michelle*

[nmoira]

I don't have a Kindle Fire (just a Kindle Touch), but I'm wondering if you considered a Nook Color or tablet. That way all of the Nook items you've already purchased could be used on the Color/tablet. Just something to think about :)

 

The Nook HD and HD+ tablets will be out by November. In many ways these are better than the new Fires, including a superior display.

 

Also consider the Google Nexus 7 tablet. There is a Nook app which will give you access to your Nook library. With the Nexus 7, you're not restricted to one ecosystem.

Edited September 29, 2012 by nmoira

[nmoira]

With what will you be taking the pictures?

[cjgrubbs]

With what will you be taking the pictures?

 

I assume I would use my camera but would I be able to then use a card reader to upload that to Kindle?

 

I'm really wanting access to all the free Kindle books. The only nook books we have purchased have been for son/DH so that is not an issue. Amazon offers so many free ones. If I get a nook I can't takea advantage of that.

[nmoira]

I assume I would use my camera but would I be able to then use a card reader to upload that to Kindle?

 

I'm really wanting access to all the free Kindle books. The only nook books we have purchased have been for son/DH so that is not an issue. Amazon offers so many free ones. If I get a nook I can't takea advantage of that.

 

Neither the Fires nor the Nexus will take an SD card, but the Nooks will. I'm but aware of a way to transfer camera data to the old Fires without a computer as intermediary. *If* your camera supports MTP, you can transfer pics to a Nexus 7 or a a new Fire (and probably the new Nooks) using a special cable.